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Another Tomlin slow starting team?

  • Thread starter Thread starter POP
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POP

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From the eye test, it looks like we are in for yet another slow start from this team. For whatever reason, this team doesn't seem to get focused until they take a few on the chin.

It would be nice if they came out strong to begin with, without digging a hole. But from what I have observed, that is not a trademark of Tomlin teams.

http://www.steelers.com/schedule-and-events/season-schedule.html

I can see a week 1 loss to the Skins and a 1-3 over all start.

Why do I think we could lose week 1?

1.) As mentioned, Tomlin doesn't seem to get his teams prepared early in the season.
2.) An underdog at home, during a primetime game, is the best bet to make in the NFL. Pgh currently 2.5 point favorites.
3.) Redskins are coming in with real hope in making noise. This is not your usual group of losers from DC.
4.) Skins have some speedy WRs who can get deep, which is our D's worst nightmare.



But the good news I can still see a 10-6 season.
 
the eye test through two preseason games where no starting skill players have played on offense?

what have the skins done to improve their ****** defense?
 
We win the SB with a healthy AB. Period.

I'll take another slow start to finish strong any day
 
If Ben is dialed in, and this offense starts to hit its stride early and our defense plays middle of the pack average, I can see this team starting out 6-1...the only teams I see beating us all season are the Ravens, Pats and maybe the Colts. We will have a letdown against somebody like Cleveland. I see a 12-4 season. I wanted to say 14-2 but I know this team too well.
 
Every one of Tomlin's teams starts slow and after two or three weeks we're wondering WTF training camp is for.
Of course we used to complain about Cowher's teams starting slow too.
 
WowZa, I see us starting the season and playing a few games.
16 for sure, but 19 in the end.

Salute the nation
 
I see a win against the Skins and then two losses after. Then up to par and dominating
 
Only thing that will slow us down this year is ourselves. The offense has been together for a good while now. Only question mark for me is the TE position.

I know Ben and AB will be ready to roll. Our TE situation, who knows whats going on there. Jesse James is going to learn on the job, glad he got some time last season.

As long as he's 100% Williams will be fine at RB. With our OL we should be able to run the ball. If we can get DWill through the first 3 games then its Le'Veon Bell time. He's going to be dynamic as ever.
 
Right.. two preseason games down without your 3 best players.. down season he we come.
 
Let's see. We have 2 pre-season games left to go and we are starting the season slow. The season hasn't even started yet!
 
TDX27 said:
Let's see. We have 2 pre-season games left to go and we are starting the season slow. The season hasn't even started yet!
Click to expand...

Gotta ***** about somethin'.

Not that pom pom posts are much better.

The real season can't start soon enough, so the real doom and gloom threads can start.
 
Playing the health route is great for the regular season, but terrible for preseason. Good thing is wins don't count in the preseason.

We have our #2s vs other teams #1s. Our 3s against their 2s. It's really good for these younger players to go up against better talent, and Eli and Coats are looking good against other teams #1s.

This is how you evaluate talent. You do it against players with more experience. Smart coaching move if you ask me.
 
I do not subscribe to the belief that preseason is indicative of anything and I also do not believe that preseason sets a tone that is important. I think different coaches approach it in different ways to achieve different goals, all with legitimate ends.

That said, the thread title (and Burgundy's comment re people complaining about Cowher re slow starts --of which I used to) got me thinking. I would expect that most teams – good or bad - tend to have random starts from season to season and likely average close to 2&2 over their first four games if given a good sample size of 10 or 20 years. I believe that this would be the result because of the fact that, in the NFL, the teams are simply not that far apart in skill set. Sure, there are anomalies, such as over the last 15 years, the Pats and Colts with lots of early season (and overall regular season) wins, and the Browns, on the negative. Based on the Steelers results of the first four games of each seasons since 1992 (per www.pro-football-reference.com), Tomlin’s and Cowher’s results were consistent with my theory, with Tomlin’s winning percentage over the first 4 games being 52.8% and Cowhers being 55%. Tomlin had the disastrous 0&4 start and has had more 2&2 starts than 3&1 starts. However, Tomlin has not has a 1&3 start. Cowher’s record is not much different due to three 1&3 starts and also many 2&2 starts. See below for the breakdown. I do not raise the Cowher years to start a Cowher v. Tomlin debate, but to test my theory based on a larger sample size and to test the accuracy of my memory re starts under Cowher. As noted above, I suspect if we looked across many teams and their first 4 games over a 10 or 15 year period, most would end up averaging near 2&2. Lucky for us, we are averaging slightly on the positive side of it.

Tomlin:
5 of 9 seasons: 2&2
3 of 9 seasons: 3&1
1 of 9 seasons: 0&4

By season in chronological order: 3-1; 3-1; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 2-2; 0-4; 2-2; 2-2

Cowher:
6 of 15 seasons: 2&2 starts
6 of 15 seasons: 3&1 starts
3 of 16 seasons: 1&3 starts

By season in chronological order: 3-1; 2-2; 2-2; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 1-3; 3-1; 1-3; 2-2; 3-1; 3-1; 1-3
 
Maybe you should have been here in 1989 when Noll lost 50-0 at home to Cleveland and followed up 41-10 loss to the Bengals. Did come back to go 9-5 in the next 14 and lost by 1 in the AFC final.
 
CoolieMan said:
the eye test through two preseason games where no starting skill players have played on offense?

what have the skins done to improve their ****** defense?
Click to expand...

Added some dude named Josh Norman. Maybe you heard of him. Shut down corner. He turned Odie Beckham into a ghost.

Also, the Steelers were a whopping 6 spots better on D.
 
I see 19-0. That's just how I roll. No time for negative waves before it matters.
 
obxsteeler said:
Maybe you should have been here in 1989 when Noll lost 50-0 at home to Cleveland and followed up 41-10 loss to the Bengals. Did come back to go 9-5 in the next 14 and lost by 1 in the AFC final.
Click to expand...

Not sure, but I don't think "here" existed. And it was 51-0. The late 80's Browns were good.
 
miiike said:
I do not subscribe to the belief that preseason is indicative of anything and I also do not believe that preseason sets a tone that is important. I think different coaches approach it in different ways to achieve different goals, all with legitimate ends.

That said, the thread title (and Burgundy's comment re people complaining about Cowher re slow starts --of which I used to) got me thinking. I would expect that most teams – good or bad - tend to have random starts from season to season and likely average close to 2&2 over their first four games if given a good sample size of 10 or 20 years. I believe that this would be the result because of the fact that, in the NFL, the teams are simply not that far apart in skill set. Sure, there are anomalies, such as over the last 15 years, the Pats and Colts with lots of early season (and overall regular season) wins, and the Browns, on the negative. Based on the Steelers results of the first four games of each seasons since 1992 (per www.pro-football-reference.com), Tomlin’s and Cowher’s results were consistent with my theory, with Tomlin’s winning percentage over the first 4 games being 52.8% and Cowhers being 55%. Tomlin had the disastrous 0&4 start and has had more 2&2 starts than 3&1 starts. However, Tomlin has not has a 1&3 start. Cowher’s record is not much different due to three 1&3 starts and also many 2&2 starts. See below for the breakdown. I do not raise the Cowher years to start a Cowher v. Tomlin debate, but to test my theory based on a larger sample size and to test the accuracy of my memory re starts under Cowher. As noted above, I suspect if we looked across many teams and their first 4 games over a 10 or 15 year period, most would end up averaging near 2&2. Lucky for us, we are averaging slightly on the positive side of it.

Tomlin:
5 of 9 seasons: 2&2
3 of 9 seasons: 3&1
1 of 9 seasons: 0&4

By season in chronological order: 3-1; 3-1; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 2-2; 0-4; 2-2; 2-2

Cowher:
6 of 15 seasons: 2&2 starts
6 of 15 seasons: 3&1 starts
3 of 16 seasons: 1&3 starts

By season in chronological order: 3-1; 2-2; 2-2; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 3-1; 2-2; 1-3; 3-1; 1-3; 2-2; 3-1; 3-1; 1-3
Click to expand...

You know what they say: There are lies, damn lies and statistics. In other words, some #s are deceiving. For instance, we needed a miracle to beat a horrible Browns team in the 2014 opener, and then got smashed by the Ravens the next week. THAT is a slow start, even though the record read 1-1. Tomlin's teams generally do not start the season focused. When they win it is often barely over the worst teams. His record against the worst teams is atrocious.
 
Steelerfan81 said:
Right.. two preseason games down without your 3 best players.. down season he we come.
Click to expand...

TDX27 said:
Let's see. We have 2 pre-season games left to go and we are starting the season slow. The season hasn't even started yet!
Click to expand...

Where did I ever say I was making this assessment from our pre-season results so far? I never did. I am basing this on how this team starts the regular season under Tomlin. Even when they win, it is usually just barely vs. horrid teams. "Style points don't matter." His teams don't seem to "wake up" until some sloppy games. I don't recall many early seasons where he had the team focused and sharp.
 
Who is Ben's go to on 3rd downs? This is assuming AB draws shaded coverage. Who can be the "Hines Ward / Heath Miller" of the offense. This is going to determine the start of the season. If someone like a Wheaton or DHB can't fill that void then we have a major problem or at least 2nd to our woes of a consistent pass rush and secondary defense. Tomlin tried to answer these question through the draft and FA, but injuries and suspensions have stunted the progress tremendously.
 
POP said:
What games have you been watching? Coats has been a collection of fumbles and flags.
Click to expand...


Let's see how the next pre-season game looks. If our #1's do well, we are ready. If not, we could be in for a slower start.

Without Ben, the Steelers are lost. So maybe the pre-season means very little outside of a developmental standpoint.

LT, TE, CB, S, and the pass rush have not looked good as a whole in the first two pre-season games.
 
CoolieMan said:
the eye test through two preseason games where no starting skill players have played on offense?

what have the skins done to improve their ****** defense?
Click to expand...

This is the reason why I hate that Coolie-**** he beats me to saying things I want to say,
 
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